The Legal 500 has published its rankings in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2023 edition and we are absolutely delighted to be recognised in 12 practice areas, with 2 elite 'Leading Individuals', 2 'Rising Stars', 1 'Next Generation Partner' and 13 recommended lawyers. These rankings reflect the results of detailed analysis of law firm submissions and thousands of interviews conducted by the Legal 500 research team, in order to select the very best firms and lawyers operating in a dynamic legal market.
Legal 500 testimonials include:
'The team is diverse in terms of age and experience and makes full use of both ends of the spectrum. The trainees and paralegals are fully involved in matters with qualified lawyers and partners, which appears to allow for a good training base. The firm makes good use of technology, which makes dealing with clients easier and less stuffy – clients can interact from the comfort of their own home instead of going into the firm's office or into counsel's chambers, which can make some clients uncomfortable or on edge.'
'Great team of people – always ready to help and get involved in all good things going on in the city, be it charity work or out in the community.'
'Extremely thorough and diligent in the preparation of their client's case.'
Associate and Marketing Manager Louis Hilldrup-Boorman said ''External feedback analysis is an effective way to benchmark our performance against our peers and gain insight into our service delivery. We are delighted with the results of this year's Legal 500 rankings – a true reflection of the hard work, dedication and expertise of our lawyers. A fantastic result for the Clapham & Collinge team!''
Our Legal 500 2023 Highlights:
Corporate and Commercial: Norwich – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has a small but active corporate and commercial practice, which is handling a growing number of transactions for businesses across Norfolk. Head of commercial property Sarah Garlish has broad expertise that encompasses corporate transactions. Among examples of her work are advice to a seller of a shareholding in a medical business, which included due diligence and negotiating the share purchase agreement. Garlish is supported by consultant Hugh Berridge.
Commercial Litigation: Elsewhere in East Anglia – Tier 4
The North Walsham office of Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is home to a highly experienced litigation partner, Philip Lumb, who also covers the Sheringham and Norwich offices. His work encompasses support for businesses, directors, partners, shareholders, consumers and other individuals in a broad range of disputes. Among them ares a dispute between a company and a former director, which was settled pre-action, and a locally high-profile claim for defamation against a local authority following a dispute between two community groups.
Commercial Litigation: Norwich – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is a prominent force in North Norfolk, and its Norwich office frequently handles commercial disputes, debt recovery, property litigation and insolvency matters for both large and small local businesses. Practice head Mark Kermez and legal executives Kate Smith and Shaun Taylor are all 'extremely capable litigators who pride themselves in leaving no stone unturned when fighting their client's cause'. They advised one client on a claim for breach of contract/misrepresentation against a large developer after the land adjoining his property was over-excavated.
Commercial Property: Norwich – Tier 2
The Norwich office of Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is home to a commercial property practice that advises both private and public sector clients on a broad range of matters including the buying and selling business premises, landlord and tenant issues, property finance and development projects. Legal executive and head of commercial property Sarah Garlish acted for a landowner selling a plot of land with planning permission for a residential dwelling, and also handled complex leasing matters in Norwich. Vastly experienced consultant Hugh Berridge still plays a key role in the practice.
The debt recovery team at Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is based at the firm's head office in Norwich but also covers North Walsham and Sheringham. This gives the firm a prominent position in Norfolk, where it assists numerous large local companies in the recovery of debts and related litigation. 'No stone is left unturned which gives the client the best possible chance in their matter', says a client of the practice led by managing partner and practice head Mark Kermez. Consultant Michael Olmer, partner Philip Lumb and legal executive Kate Smith also play key roles in the practice. 'They stand out as a jewel in the crown of debt recovery legal advice in East Anglia', remarks a client.
The employment practice at Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is 'extremely polite and helpful - when they say they are going to do something consider it done'. In contentious matters, the firm acts predominantly for claimants and this is the mainstay of its practice, though it continues to grow its non-contentious workload and its representation of respondents in employment litigation. Legal executive Nicola Strefford in Norwich leads the practice, which works closely with the firm's commercial group on TUPE matters and supporting employers with the acquisition of businesses. Strefford is 'a very professional individual and brings a human touch in our dealings'.
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence: Claimant – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors handles both personal injury and clinical negligence work, and clients note that it has 'a small team that packs a punch above its size'. 'They are able to manage large claims and understand the needs of severely injured claimants', says a client of practice head Philip Lumb in Norwich and legal executive Kate Smith, who is vastly experienced in PI matters. Lumb has experience in high-value claims arising from industrial disease, asbestos-related illness, serious injury, accidents at work, road traffic accidents and clinical negligence.
Professional Negligence – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has a professional negligence practice based in its offices in Norwich, North Walsham and Sheringham. It handles complex and high-value claims against solicitors, barristers, accountants, financial advisers and insurance brokers, frequently acting on behalf of claimants. Partner Philip Lumb in North Walsham and legal executive Kate Smith in Norwich are the key practitioners. Lumb has a broad practice focusing on professional negligence, personal injury and clinical negligence.
Charities and Not-for-Profit – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has a multi-disciplinary team that draws on expertise from the commercial property and employment practices to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Since its launch in 2016, the practice has significantly grown its client base in Norfolk and beyond. Its work encompasses charity formation, trustee compliance advice, mergers, company law, property transactions, landlord and tenant matters, and HR advice. Head of family law Neale Grearson in Norwich leads the practice and is a trustee of numerous local charities. Also in Norwich, litigation partner Philip Lumb is a key adviser on contentious matters.
Contentious Trusts and Probate – Tier 3
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors frequently handles claims under the Inheritance Act. Litigation partner Philip Lumb in North Walsham has experience in high-value and complex claims, including contentious trust and probate matters. He recently advised a client in respect of a large family trust concerning land worth around £3m following a dispute between beneficiaries and other family members. Consultant Michael Olmer in Norwich also plays a key role in the practice.
Clients of Clapham & Collinge Solicitors remark that the firm 'takes a very caring approach to clients and has been quick to adapt to remote court hearings'. Practice head Neale Grearson is 'really caring and empathetic with clients, and very sound and pragmatic advice is given at all stages'. He acted for a husband in financial relief proceedings involving substantial property and assets and in particular dealing with his business, with the wife remaining in the family home with a value in excess of £1m and a final hearing conducted to resolve financial relief.
Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate: Norwich - Tier 2
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has 'an excellent, very capable and friendly team with strong knowledge'. All of the firm's private client lawyers are Dementia Friends and many are STEP members. Head of private client Lin Whitehead 'has a huge amount of experience in Court of Protection and this gives her a certain level of gravitas, whilst still remaining approachable and friendly'. Partner Ben Lowe specialises in administration of private family trusts, personal injury trusts, and charitable trusts, and the administration of estates with values up to £50m. Newly promoted partner Lauren Abbs handles a broad range of matters, among them tax planning and protection wills, LPAs, equity release and estate planning.
*Extracts taken from The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2023 edition.
If you have a legal query and would like to speak to a member of the Clapham & Collinge team, please contact our dedicated Client Relations Team on 01603 693500 or email us using the 'Make an Enquiry' online form on our website.
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